3 drug suspects slain

MANILA, Philippines — Three drug suspects and two other persons were gunned down in separate incidents in Luzon and North Cotabato on Monday.

Marcos La Madrid, a resident of Barangay Magsaysay, Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, was walking in the barangay at around 9 p.m. when he was shot by motorcycle-riding men.

La Madrid was ranked sixth on the drug watchlist in the town, police said.

Beldik Usop allegedly drew his gun and fired at police operatives serving a warrant of arrest for illegal drugs in Barangay Poblacion, Kabacan, North Cotabato.

Usop’s alleged cohorts Akmad Blah, Abdul Angkanan and Ali Zacaria did not resist arrest.

Valente Cariño, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director in Region 12, said the fatality was on PDEA’s list of “high-value” targets.

Luis Capunpun was driving his motorcycle when he was shot in Barangay 3, Calamba, Laguna.

Superintendent Sancho Celedio, city police chief, said a sachet of shabu and drug paraphernalia were recovered from the fatality.

In Batangas, a man who has yet to be identified was in a passenger jeepney travelling in Barangay Balagtas, Batangas City when he was shot by another passenger.

Cell phone technician Eddie Nuñez, 38, was at a computer shop in Barangay Malabago, Mangaldan, Pangasinan when motorcycle-riding men pulled over and shot him at close range.

Investigations into the killings are underway. – Raymund Catindig, John Unson, Emmanuel Tupas, Eva Visperas, Ed Amoroso